Air handling and cleaning apparatus for machines



April 1968- J. c. SHACKELFORD 3,378,998

AIR HANDLING AND CLEANING APPARATUS FOR MACHINES Filed July 28, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR. JOHN COOPER SHACKELFORD 43 ATTORNEY April 23, .1968 J. c. SHACKELFORD 8,

AIR HANDLING AND CLEANING APPARATUS FOR MACHINES Filed July 28. 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

JOHN Comma SHACKELFORD I ATTORNEY April 968 J. c. SHACKELFORD 3,378,998

AIR HANDLING AND CLEANING APPARATUS FOR MACHINES Filed July 28, 1966 s Sheets-Sheet s INVEN TOR. JOHN COOPER SHACKELFORD ATTORNEY April 1968 J. c. SHACKELFORD 3,378,998

AIR HANDLING AND CLEANING APPARATUS FOR MACHINES Filed July 28.. 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 J; "g H INVENTOR.

,JOHN COOPER SHACKELFORD ATTORNEY April 1968 J. c. SHAC-KELFORD I 3,378,998 7 AIR HANDLING AND CLEANING APPARATUS FOR MACHINES Filed July 28, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 122a I15 110 I2] Z "5e I197 1/825 I23 09 ,IZIa

/22 I02 I13 I07 ln v I15 114 L 109 9G INVENTOR. 4 JOHN COOPER SHAC/(LEFOPD TTORNEY April 23, 1968 J. c. SHACKELFORD 3,378,993

AIR HANDLING AND CLEANING APPARATUS FOR MACHINES Filed July 28. 1966 s Sheets-Sheet 6 2 H l 0 I 4 I I I l I 1.06M MOTOR I COVER- RAISING COVER LOWERING INVENTOR. JOHN COOPER BHACKLEFORD ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,378,998 AIR HANDLING AND CLEANING APPARATUS FOR MACHINES John Cooper Shackelford, 39 Serrine Drive, Greenvilie, S.C. 29605 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 511,399, Dec. 3, 1965. This application July 28, 1966, Ser. No. 568,473

3 Claims. ((Il. 57--56) This invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the environmental conditions in which machines are operated, as well as for cleaning foreign matter and lint accumulations from textile machinery.

This application is a continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 511,399, entitled, Air Handling and Cleaning Apparatus for Machines, filed Dec. 3, 1965.

As is well known, many different types of cleaning devices have been provided for textile machinery to maintain the machinery and surrounding room free from foreign matter such as lint and fly. It is important that the machines be free from foreign matter in order to produce high quality cloth, yarn or sliver. If no cleaning system were used, lint particles would accumulate and be picked up by the passages of yarn, sliver, etc., thus forming gouts or wads. These gouts or wads tend to catch on certain parts of the machinery and cause breakage of the caught textile strands with consequent stoppage of the machine. Furthermore, even if these wads or gouts did not cause breakage of the strands, but passed through the machinery and were woven or knitted into the fabric, they would cause imperfections in the fabric.

Heretofore, various means have been attempted to reduce the amount of fly in the air and the lint settling on various surfaces. One device incorporates a travelling blower system which blows air directly onto the fiber manipulating machinery. Such a system has not proven satisfactory since the blower merely scatters the lint and other particles, and contaminates the air in the room in which the machinery is located. Furthermore, the dust, lint, and other particles, Which are removed from the machinery may ultimately settle upon the yarn. The lint is ultimately swept up off the floor and sold as waste. Waste has a value and the cleaner the waste, the higher the value. It can be seen that if the waste is blown over the floor where oil has accumulated from the machines, or dirt from foot trafiic, it will be contaminated and have a lower value.

One attempt to confine the foreign matter and lint contemplates using an induction draft system beneath the machinery. Such has not proven satisfactory since it is not practical to use induction fans which are large enough to pull the lint off the machine parts. This is especially true where filters have to be used with the induction draft system to remove the lint.

It has also been found that some yarn manipulating operations can best be accomplished at a certain temperature and humidity. Sometimes, the desired temperature and humidity is not the most comfortable for the employees or the most economical. Thus, it is not desirable to maintain the entire room, where the machines are located, at the desired operating temperature and humidity.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for collecting lint and foreign matter from machines.

It is another object of the subject invention to provide an apparatus which improves the control of the temperature and humidity in the immediate vicinity of yarn manipulating mechanism of textile machinery.

Still another object of the subject invention is to provide an apparatus which encloses a textile machine to restrict l-int and fly to the immediate vicinity of the machine 3,378,998 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 and utilizes a controlled path of air flow to draw the lint and fly from the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which utilizes both a direct draft of air and induction draft to maintain textile machinery free from lint and fly.

Still another important object of the present invention is to concentrate the flow of properly conditioned air on the areas of textile material in the various textile machines Where the maintenance of properly conditioned air is of most importance to the etiiciency of the operation of the machine and manipulation of the textile material.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide a device for collecting 'high quality waste fi-ber where it is initially dislodged from a strand so that it does not become contaminated by outside dust, floor dirt, machine oil, etc.

A further important object of the present invent-ion is to rovide an apparatus which encloses a textile machine for removing lint and fly from the immediate vicinity of the machine and including means for raising a cover portion for providing access to the machine.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide an enclosure for a textile machine including a cover portion which is automatically raised when the machine is shut down for providing access to the machine and for signalling that such machine is in need of attention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating an air handling and lint collection apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted in operative position on a loom,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating the air handling and lint collection device of FIGURE I removed from the loom,

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the air handling and lint collection apparatus connected to a waste removal and air-conditioning system of a textile mill,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating an air handling and lint collection apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted in an operative position on a spinning frame,

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 7 is a sectional side elevation taken along line 77 of FIGURE 6 with parts of the spinning frame removed,

FIGURE 8 is a sectional side elevation taken along line 38 of FIGURE 6 with parts of the spinning frame removed,

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention illustrating an air handling and lint collection apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted in operative position on a loom,

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view illustrating the air handling and lint collection device of FIGURE 9 removed from the loom,

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or correspond ing parts throughout the several views, an air handling and lint collection apparatus, constructed in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated in FIGURE 1 enclosing a conventional loom.

A hood A is carried over the loom enclosing an upper portion of the loom. The hood A has an opening therein for receiving air. An air input means is connected to the opening in said hood for supplying air thereto. A central chamber B is attached to the hood. The central chamber B encloses working instrumentalities of the loom at points where lint normally i dislodged, and collects, in substantial quantities. A base enclosure C encloses a bottom portion of the machinery. The base enclosure is connected to the central chamber B for receiving accumulated lint from the central chamber. A suction and collecting unit D (FIGURE 4) is connected to the base enclosure C for creating a negative pressure which aids in drawing the lint from the apparatus. Thus, the apparatus encloses the machinery and the flow of air passing therethrough maintains the machinery substantially free from lint and fly.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 9 through 12 a chamber encloses the working instrumentalities of the machine at points where lint normally is dislodged and collects in substantial quantities. The chamber includes an opening therein for receiving air in an upper portion thereof, a cover E for gaining access to an inside portion of the chamber, and a substantially vertical guide F for the cover. A base member G is adjacent the bottom of the machine and has an opening therein for receiving accumulated lint from the chamber. A lower portion of the chamber is in close proximity with an upper portion of the base member G during the operation of the fiber manipulating machine. The lower portion of the chamber has an opening therein for discharging air into the base member G. The chamber and the base member G define an enclosure for the machine. Power operated means H, which is electrically connected in a motor circuit for the machine, is provided for automatically raising the cover when the motor is deenergized.

The loom illustrated in FIGURES 1, 3, 9 and 11 is a conventional loom consisting of side frames 10, the usual arch 11 and front girt 12. Warp yarn 13 is illustrated in FIGURE 3 as coming off warp beam 14 and passing over the whip roll 15, through the drop wires 16 and the harnesses 17 which form the shed for weaving. During the weaving operation the lay 18 with reed 19 oscillates horizontally about a pivot point 20 near the lower part of the loom. When the reed 19 is adjacent the harnesses 17, a shuttle or other means, depending on the loom being used, is passed through the shed placing a filling yarn between separated layers of warp yarn. When the lay 18 is moved to the right to the position shown in broken lines, the reed packs or beats up the filling yarn tight against the edge of cloth 22, thus adding one more cross thread to the cloth 22. The cloth 22 passes over the take-up roll 23 and is rolled on the cloth roll 24.

In such an operation action of the draw bars, the motion and action of the harnesses of the warp yarn, and the motion of the lay and reed along the warp yarn and against the cloth edge during the weaving operation cause fibers to be dislodged. These fibers or lint are sometimes woven into the cloth, which causes imperfections and reduces the value of the cloth. One of the purposes of the subject invention is to move the dislodged lint away from the yarn and cloth immediately and to collect the lint and foreign matter before such can be woven into the cloth. In order to accomplish such a feat an air handling and lint collection apparatus is constructed in accordance with the present invention to enclose a portion of the loom. This portion of the loom includes most of the areas where lint and fly would normally be dislodged during the weaving operation.

The apparatus includes a hood A which is carried over the loom and encloses an upper portion of the loom. The hood has a top 25 with an opening therein for receiving an air duct 26.

A central chamber B is attached to the hood A and encloses the working instrumentalities of the loom at points where lint normally is dislodged and collects in substantial quantities. The central chamber B includes front and rear walls 27 and 28, which are joined by side walls 29 and 30. The walls of the central chamber B are integral with the hood. The front and rear walls 27 and 28 are constructed of transparent material so that the weaving operation is visible. In order to provide access to the machinery, parts of the front and rear walls 27 and 28 are carried on hinges 31 and 32 mounted on the hood. Hinges may also be placed in the medial portion of the front and rear walls so that they can be folded thereabout, as well as pivoted on the hinges 31 and 32. Other type access panels could be used, such as hinged or removable doors, instead of the hinged walls 27 and 28.

The side walls 29 and 30 have openings therein for permitting laterally extending portions of the loom to extend beyond the apparatus. If it is desirable, the side walls can be positioned beyond the laterally extending portions of the loom and no holes would be necessary. Normally, the holes in the side walls are not objectionable since a direct draft of air and an induction draft are both connected to the apparatus. In the side wall 29 openings are cut for drop bar 33, lay 34, crank shaft 35, cam shaft 36, frame arch 37, and harness drive 33. On some looms it may be necessary for the side walls to project outwardly in the medial portion so as to accommodate the harnesses.

A base enclosure C encloses a bottom portion of the machinery. The base enclosure is connected to the central chamber B for receiving, confining and transmitting accumulated lint from the central chamber. The base enclosure C includes front and rear walls 39 and 40, which joins the side walls 29 and 30. The rent and rear walls 39 and :0 taper inwardly so that base enclosure C is located between the warp roll 14 and the cloth roll 24. A longitudinal slot 41 is provided between rear wall 28 of the central chamber B and the rear wall 40 of the base enclosure permitting the whip roll 15 to feed the warp yarn into the loom. A longitudinal slot 42 is provided between the front wall 27 of the central chamber B and the front wall 39 of the base enclosure for permitting the cloth 22 to pass through after the weaving operation to be taken up on the cloth roll 24. The longitudinal slot 42 is located adjacent the take-up roll 23.

The walls of the base enciosure C terminates in a pair of ducts 43 and 44 which straddle treadle 45. An opening 45a is provided in ducts permitting jack straps 46 to pass therethrough to be attached to a jack stick. The pair of ducts 43 and 44 isolate the treadle from the waste or lint being removed from the loom. Thus, oil drippings and the like from the treadle 45 do not contaminate the waste. The ducts 43 and 44 extend through the floor 47 of the mill and connects to the suction, cleaning and air-conditioning system D which creates a negative pressure in the base enclosure for drawing the lint from the apparatus (FIGURE 4).

The suction and air-conditioning cleaning system D consists of a network of ducts 48 which connect an airconditioning and a cleaning system to a plurality of looms. A return air fan 48a draws the air and lint from the loom through a filter 49 which removes most of the lint from the air. The air then passes through an air washer 59 which removes from the air the finer particles which pass through the filter and which reconditions the air so that it possesses the desired temperature and humidity. The reconditioned air passes from the air washer 56 through a blower 52 which blows the air into the hood A of the apparatus. It is note-:1 that there is a positive pressure at the hood A and a negative pressure at the base enclosure C. The combination of the two with the pull of gravity causes the lint and foreign matter to be drawn into the collecting and cleaning unit D. The number of looms that can be connected to the collecting, cleaning, and airconditioning unit is governed by the size of the air-conditioning device 50 and the fans.

The entire air handling and lint collecting apparatus may be constructed of sheet metal save those surfaces through which observation is desirable, such as front and rear Walls 27 and 28, and such surfaces as needed for light transmittal. The apparatus is provided with adequate braces (not shown) to support the structure on the loom. If the apparatus is to be installed on machines already assembled, it may be necessary to assemble the apparatus in a plurality of parts and connect the parts together with bolts or the like.

While the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4 as enclosing a loom, it can be associated with many different machines, such as spinning frames, as illustrated in FIGURES 5 through 8.

The spinning frame illustrated in FIGURES 5 through 8 is a conventional spinning frame with an air handling and lint collection apparatus mounted thereon. The spinning machine comprises a frame broadly designated at 53, which includes head-end frame member 54 and a foot-end frame member. Intermediate upright frame members or samsons 55, which supports beams 56, are located between head-end and foot-end frame members. The beams 56 support spaced roll stands 57, which in turn, support the usual drafting rolls 58. The drafting rolls 53 draw roving or other textile strands 59 from roving packages 6? carried by a creel 61 supported by a vertical post 61a mounted on the frame 55. As strands 5d are drafted by rolls 58 they pass downwardly to and are wound about bobbins or yarn carriers 62 supported on spindles 63. The spinning frame is equipped with a conventional brokenend collection system which includes tubular members 63a located adjacent to the drafting rolls 58. However, it is to be noted that an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention may operate with or without machines having a collection system. A vertical traversing ring rail 64, which carries the usual rings and travelers for winding yarn on the bobbins 62 is associated with the machine. Spindles 63 are suitably supported by a spindle rail 65 carried by the frame 55. The spindles 63 are driven by tape members 66, which in turn, are driven by a centrally disposed rotating cylinder 67. The parts of the spinning machine, heretofore, described are conventional and are described only for environmental purposes. The spinning frame is enclosed in an air handling and lint removal apparatus. FIGURES 5 through 8 illustrate two different methods in which the apparatus can be mounted on the spinning frame. One method is illustrated enclosing the left-hand side of the spinning frame in FIGURES 6 and 7. Another method is illustrated enclosing the righthand side of the spinning frame of FIGURE 6.

Both methods contemplate using a hood A over the spinning rame. The hood has a plurality of openings therein for receiving air ducts 68. The air ducts 68 are connected to a similar air-conditioning system as illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

A central chamber B is attached to the hood. The central chamber encloses the Working inst-rumentalities of the spring frame. The central chamber is formed of a front-end wall 69 and a rear-end wall. A transparent side panel 70 is positioned between the front-end wall and the rear-end wall. The side panel 70 may be formed of one or more access panels 71 and '72. These panels may be joined by a hinge 73 or by a sliding lap joint, etc. The hinge can be reinforced and attached to the front-end and rear-end walls. The panel 70 tapers inwardly to a point above the drafting rolls. Air passing over the roving spindles is directed into a duct 74 which encloses the drafting rolls 58 and the bobbin 62. The inner wall 75 of the duct '74 extends from the vertical post (1a downwardly and outwardly adjacent the inner drafting rolls.

. d At the base of the drafting rolls the inner wall has a vertical portion 76 which extends downwardly adjacent the inner surface of the bobbin 62 and terminates in a horizontal duct '77. The outer wall of the duct 74 is a plurality of hinged access panels 78 having the shape of an obtuse angle which fits closely adjacent the outer layer of drafting rolls 58 and the outer surface of the bob-bin 62. The panel 78 is supported by a hinge 79 or by other suitable means, permitting the panel to be pivoted thereabout for providing access to the bobbins 62 and the drafting rolls 58. The outer wall of the duct 74 also terminates in the horizontal duct 77.

The horizontal duct 77 extends the length of the spinning frame and receives lint drawn from around the drafting rolls 58 and the bobbins 62. The base of the horizontal duct 77 has openings therein for permitting the spindles 63 to extend therethrough. The horizontal duct 77 has holes therein for receiving vertical ducts 81. The vertical ducts are positioned between the tapes 66 and extend downwardly connecting with a central air return duct 82. The central duct feeds the air and lint into a suction and collecting unit such as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

Relief openings 83 and 84 may be provided in the walls of the air handling apparatus. The relief openings 83 nearest the supply duct 68 would normally allow a flow of air from within the enclosure out into the room. The relief opening 84 located near the return air duct 82 would normally allow air to be sucked into the return air duct from the room. These relief openings could be fixed, or if found necessary, could be equipped with dampers of the usual type which would allow air to pass only in the desired direction and at a given time.

The air handling and lint collection apparatus illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7 operates in a manner similar to the apparatus previously described in connection with the loom. Air is fed into the apparatus and takes the path illustrated by the arrows. Air is supplied to the apparatus through duct 68 under a positive pressure. A suction or negative pressure is applied to the air return duct 82. Thus, the air on the left-hand side of the spinning frame, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, passes over the roving packages 60 collecting loose lint and fly. The velocity of the flow of air increases as it is confined to the duct 74. Thus, the fast moving air adjacent the drafting rolls 53 and the bobbin 62 tends to pick up any dislodged loose lint or foreign matter. It is also noted that the conditioned air is concentrated on the drafting rolls 5s and the bobbin 62. The air is drawn from duct 74 into the horizontal duct 77 from which it fiows through the vertical ducts 81 into the air return duct 82. The air is filtered to remove the lint and reconditioned prior to recirculating it back through the air handling and lint removing apparatus.

The right-hand side of the spinning frame of FIGURES 6 and 8 illustrate another method of enclosing the spinning frame. A plurality of side panels 85 are connected to the hood A by hinges 8'6 permitting them to be opened. Lower panels 86a fit adjacent the upper panels 85. The lower panels are carried on longitudinal hinges 87 and can be pivoted thereabout. Vertical panels 85 and 86a may be installed as vertically counterbalanced panels, or as horizontally sliding units, or by any other suitable means. Air passing over the roving packages 60 is directed into a longitudinal duct 8S. The inner wall 89 of the duct 88 extends from the vertical post 61a downwardly and outwardly adjacent the inner drafting rolls. At the base of the drafting rolls the inner wall has a vertical portion 9%) which extends downwardly adjacent the inner surface of the bobbin 62 and terminates in a horizontal outwardly extending flange 91. There are openings in the inner wall 89 through which the space roll stands 56 project to support the drafting rolls. The flange 91 has openings therein permitting the spindles 63 to extend therethrough. The free-end of the flange 91 is joined by an inner wall 92 of a duct 93 which communicates with the return duct 32. An outer wall 94 of the duct 93 has one edge connected to the lower panel 86a and a lower edge connected to the return duct 82. The outer wall 94 has closely fitting openings through which the frame members 55 extend.

The air handling system illustrated on the right-hand side of the spinning frame illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 8 operates in a similar manner as the structure of the left-hand side. The air coming in the apparatus from duct 68 is under pressure. The air is directed over the drafting rolls 58 and the bobbin 62 by means of the duct 83. The air and lint collected passes through the passageway adjacent outer wall 94, the duct 93, and into the return duct 82.

The outer walls of the air handling and lint removal apparatus are constructed of transparent material so that the working mechanisms of the spinning frame are visible. The hood or other surfaces may be transparent for admitting light. It can be seen that the duct arrangements of the apparatus confine the lint and keeps it from flying out into the room. It can also be seen that the conditioned air is concentrated in the space adjacent to the textile material. Thus, the temperature and humidity of the air passing through the apparatus may be different from that in the room where the machines are located. When the apparatus is mounted on some machines, it may be desirable to provide lights within the apparatus to illuminate the working instrumentalities.

FIGURES 9 through 11 illustrate another modified form of the invention including apparatus for providing improved environmental conditions for weaving cloth on a loom, as well as for cleaning lint and other similar material from the loom. The working instrumentalities of the loom, when such are operating, are enclosed by a hood or chamber which is preferably automatically opened when the loom is shut down to provide access thereto.

A horizontal top 95 has an opening therein for receiving the air duct 26. Openings are provided in the top 95 for accommodating fluorescent lamps 96 which are used for illuminating the working instrumentalities of the loom. The chamber further includes a cover E for gaining access to an inside portion of the chamber, and a substantially vertical guide F for the cover. The cover E has front and rear vertical walls 97 and 98 which are joined by vertical side walls 99 and 100, respectively. The cover E is carried on the frame F which acts as a guide so that such can be moved vertically upwardly for providing access for servicing the loom.

In this embodiment the front and rear walls 97 and 98 are preferably constructed of a suitable transparent material so that the working instrumentalities of the loom are visible when the cover is in the lowered position, asillusrated in FIGURES 9 and 11. The side walls 99 and 100 are preferably constructed of acoustical composition material and have vertical slots 101 therein (see FIGURES 9 and which permits the cover to be lowered over the loom without striking the usual loom arch 11. Adjacent the edges of the slots 101 laterally extending flanges 102 are provided which cooperate with outwardly extending flanges 103 carried on vertical member 104 extending upwardly from the top of the side walls 105 and 106, respectively, of the base member G to provide a closure.

It is noted that when the cover is in the lowered position, as illustrated in FIGURE 9, that the vertical member 104 terminates short of the top of a slot 101 so that the arch 11 can extend therethrough. A similar but shorter vertical slot 107 is provided in the side walls 99 and 100 for accommodating the loom. The side wall 105 of the base member G has a vertical member 108 integral with the top thereof, which cooperates with the slot 107 when the cover is in the lowered position to provide an opening. It is noted that the slot 107 and the vertically extending member 108 are also provided with laterally extending cooperating flanges. Other slots are provided in the side walls 99 and 100 of the cover and the sides 105 and 106 of the base G for accommodating laterally extending members such as the lay 34, crank shaft 35, and cam shaft 36.

The upper edge of the base member G has a laterally extending flange 108a which supports to cover when such is in the lowered position illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 11. The bottom edge of the front and side walls of the cover also have laterally extending flanges thereon which rests on the flanges 108a carried adjacent the top of the base member G. The duct 26 carried on the top of the apparatus and the ducts 43 and 44 integral with the base G of the apparatus are connected to a suction and air-conditioning cleaning system D as illustrated and previously described in connection with FIGURE 4.

The guide F includes a frame having four spaced vertical angle irons 109 which are located adjacent the inner corners of the cover E. The upper ends of the angle irons are joined by a substantially rectangular frame 110 which has a power operated means H carried thereon for raising and lowering the cover. The lower end of the frame F is suitably mounted on the loom so that such does not interfere with the yarn manipulating operation.

The power operated means H for raising and lowering the cover includes a motor M-1 which is suitably mounted on the frame 110. The motor has a pulley on its drive shaft connected through a belt 111 to a pulley 112 carried on a shaft 113. The shaft 113 is rotatably carried between a pair of bearing posts 114 which are in turn mounted on the frame 110. A pair of laterally spaced pulleys 115 are fixed on the shaft 113 for rotation therewith, and each has a cable 116 attached thereto. The freeend of each cable 116 is connected to its respective upper corner of the cover E so that when the shaft 113 is rotated in a clockwise direction the pulleys 115 will wind the cable upwardly thus raising the cover.

Similar pulleys and cables are carried on the other side of the frame 110 so that the cover may be raised uniformly. The shaft 113 has a pulley 117 fixed thereto which is used to drive a shaft 118 carried on the other side of the frame through a belt 119 and a pulley 120. The shaft 118 is suitably journaled in bearing posts 121 which are in turn mounted on a support platform 121a. A gear connection is provided between the shaft 118 and a shaft 122 so that the pulleys 115a carried on the shaft 122 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction when the pulleys 115 on shaft 113 are rotated in a clockwise direction. Shaft 122 is journaled between bearing post 122a. The gear connection bet-ween shaft 122 and shaft 118 may include any suitable pair of gears, such as illustrated at 123 and 124 connected to the respective shafts.

The motor M-l is wired to an electrically controlled circuit which is described in connection with FIGURE 12 so that when the loom motor is shut down such will be energized to raise the cover E which makes the working instru-mentalities of the loom accessible, and provides a signal for the fixer that the loom has been shut down. Whenever the fixer or loom operator sees the cover of the apparatus in a raised position he knows that the loom has been shut down.

It is noted that when the cover is in the lowered position as illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 11, a slot 41 is provided between the side wall 98 of the cover and the base member side wall 40 for permitting the warp yarn 13 to pass therethrough. A similar slot 42 is located between side wall 97 of the cover and the side 39 of the base member for providing the cloth 22 to pass therethrough.

The electrical circuitry for starting the loom motor; as well as raising and lowering the cover E, is illustrated in FIGURE 12. In order to energize the loom motor, start button ST-l of the loom motor circuit is depressed energizing the loom motor M, as well as the relay CR-l. When relay CR-l is energized contact CR-l is closed scaling in the circuit around the start button ST-l. Such also opens the normally closed contact CR-l of the cover raising circuit preventing the motor M-l from being energized. It is noted that an overload switch T-1 is connected in the loom motor circuit so that when such draws too much current the overload switch will be open. Switches S-1 and 8-2 are connected in series in the motor circuit and are operatively connected to a filling detection circuit and a warp detection circuit, respectively, so that when the filling or the warp yarn is broken the corresponding switch S1 or S2 is opened stopping the loom motor. The switches S-1 and S2 may be connected to a conventional filling detection circuit and warp detection circuit in any suitable manner as long as such open the loom motor circuit when there is a break in the filling or warp yarn. The loom motor circuit also has a stop button SP-l connected in series therewith which upon depressing will open the loom motor circuit.

The circuits entitled cover raising and cover lowering are provided for selectively energizing the motor M1 for raising and lowering the cover, respectively.

Assuming that the chamber cover E is in open position when the 100m motor is energized, the operator then depresses the start button ST-2 of the cover lowering circuit completing such circuit and energizing the motor M4 for lowering the cover. When the start button ST2 is depressed, the relay CR-2 is energized closing the contact CR2 sealing in the circuit around the start button ST-2. The normally closed contact CR-2 in the cover raising circuit is opened preventing such from being energized when the switch R is in the automatic position. The cover motor M-l is energized until the cover strikes a limit switch L-2, which causes the motor M-1 to be de-energized when the cover is in the lowered position. It is noted that the cover lowering circuit may be manually opened by depressing the stop button SP-2.

If the loom is stopped, either through the opening of one of the switches S-1 or S-2 due to a break in the filling or warp, or due to the opening of the overload switch T-1, or due to the manually stopping of the loom by pushing the stop button SP-l, the current ceases to pass through the relay CR-l and the loom motor de-energizing such. When the relay CR-l is tie-energized the contact CR-l of the cover raising circuit is closed completing the circuit to the motor M-l. Such causes the motor M-1 to be energized for raising the cover until such strikes the limit switch L-1 which is opened when the cover is in the raised position. It is noted that contact CR-Z in the cover raising circuit is closed when the control relay CR-Z is de-energized, and is opened when such relay is energized preventing the cover raising circuit from being completed during the lowering Operation. The cover raising circuit is provided with a three contact manual switch R which may be moved to the upper position for manually closing the cover raising circuit, or be moved to the center off position for disengaging the circuit, or be placed in the lower position for automatic operation. The cover raising circuit, as well as the cover lowering circuit, are provided with overload switches T-2 and T3, respectively.

The motor M-1 is wired in such a manner that when the cover raising circuit is energized it will rotate in one direction and when the cover lowering circuit is energized it will rotate in the opposite direction.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made Without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for cleaning lint and other light material from a motor operated fiber manipulating textile machine for improving the environmental conditions for the fiber manipulating operation comprising: a chamber enclosing working instrumentalities of said machine at points where lint normally is dislodged and collects in substantial quantities; said chamber including, an opening therein for receiving air in an upper portion thereof, a cover for gaining access to an inside portion of said chamber, and a substantially vertical guide for said cover; a base member adjacent the bottom of the machine having an opening therein for receiving accumulated lint from said chamber; a lower portion of said chamber being in close proximity to an upper portion of said base member during the operation of said fiber manipulating machine; said lower portion having an opening therein for discharging air into said base member; said chamber and base member defining an enclosure for said machine; means for raising said cover on said guide for providing access to said machine; a collection unit communicating with said base member for receiving lint therefrom; and means for passing air through said enclosure for maintaining said machine and fiber substantially free from lint and fly.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said machine motor is energized by an electric circuit, and wherein said means for raising said cover includes: power operated means carried by said apparatus for selectively raising and lowering said cover; means for electrically connecting said power operated means in said circuit; and means for automatically energizing said power operated means for raising said cover when said motor is de-energized.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said power operated means includes: an electric motor carried on said apparatus; cable means connected to said cover; and means driven by said motor for raising and lowering said cable means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,128,207 8/1938 Hodge 15-301 XR 2,140,420 12/1938 Eaddy 5756 XR 2,431,726 12/ 1947 Bechtler.

2,708,829 5/1955 Thoma 5756 XR 2,898,727 8/1959 Bahnson 5756 3,059,896 10/1962 Reiterer 5756 XR 3,073,106 1/1963 Tsuzuki.

3,146,572 9/1964 Keyser 571 3,274,803 9/ 1966 Schmidt 66168 FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

D. WATKINS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING LINT AND OTHER LIGHT MATERIAL FROM A MOTOR OPERATED FIBER MANIPULATING TEXTILE MACHINE FOR IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR THE FIBER MANIPULATING OPERATION COMPRISING: A CHAMBER ENCLOSING WORKING INSTRUMENTALITIES OF SAID MACHINE AT POINTS WHERE LINT NORMALLY IS DISLODGED AND COLLECTS IN SUBSTANTIAL QUANTITIES; SAID CHAMBER INCLUDING, AN OPENING THEREIN FOR RECEIVING AIR IN AN UPPER PORTION THEREOF, A COVER FOR GAINING ACCESS TO AN INSIDE PORTION OF SAID CHAMBER, AND A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL GUIDE FOR SAID COVER; A BASE MEMBER ADJACENT THE BOTTOM OF THE MACHINE HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN FOR RECEIVING ACCUMULATED LINE FROM SAID CHAMBER; A LOWER PORTION OF SAID CHAMBER BEING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO AN UPPER PORTION OF SAID BASE MEMBER DURING THE OPERATION OF SAID FIBER MANIPULATING MACHINE; SAID LOWER PORTION HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN FOR DISCHARGING AIR INTO SAID BASE MEMBER; SAID CHAMBER AND BASE MEMBER DEFINING AN ENCLOSURE FOR SAID MACHINE; MEANS FOR RAISING SAID COVER ON SAID GUIDE FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO SAID MACHINE; A COLLECTION UNIT COMMUNICATING WITH SAID BASE MEMBER FOR RECEIVING LINT THEREFROM; AND MEANS FOR PASSING AIR THROUGH SAID ENCLOSURE FOR MAINTAINING SAID MACHINE AND FIBER SUBSTANTIALLY FREE FROM LINT AND FLY. 